Big second half carries Island Coast past cross-town rival Ida Baker, 35-14
In a crosstown matchup Friday night, Island Coast came out victorious at home over Ida Baker, 35-14.
The Gators (2-4) offense was led by junior running back Gervaris Leaphart, who carried 12 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bulldogs (0-6) kept it close in the first half, with the score 6-6 at the break, but were unable to keep Island Coast in check over the final two quarters.
“The offensive line came alive (in the second half),” said Island Coast head coach Tyran Jones. “They played up to their potential. We now need to capitalize off of this much-needed win.”
After a scoreless first quarter, the Gators struck first as Pierre Holmes reeled in an 18-yard pass from Kobey Babernitch.
With just over two minutes left before the half, Bulldogs running back Jesiah McKnight carried 7 yards into the end zone to knot things up 6-6.
The Gators took the lead back with just under four minutes left in the third quarter, as Leaphart galloped 62 yards to the end zone. He punched in the 2-point conversion to give Island Coast a 14-6 lead as the clock turned to the final quarter.
Less than a minute into the fourth, Leaphart scored his second TD of the game, this time from 7 yards out. Another successful 2-point try put Island Coast up 22-6.
“Gervaris is special,” Jones said. “He’s patient. He’s coachable. He’s a hell of a ball player that will definitely be playing on Saturday afternoons. Even with the struggles of the past few games in the win column, he shows up to work every day with a good attitude and never takes a play off.”
Babernitch extended the lead exactly two minutes later, taking a keeper 11 yards for the score.
Island Coast’s offense again struck, this time via a Charles Lombardo 20-yard reception from Rex Elliot.
Ida Baker’s Brendon Donnelly scored on a 1-yard run with less than a minute left to make the final score 35-14.
Jones was proud of the way his defense played, recording six sacks and an interception.
“They didn’t do anything we weren’t prepared for,” Jones said. “The boys watch film constantly, so this is just good preparation on their end. I’m super proud of them.”
Next week, Ida Baker will travel to Riverdale (1-6) for a district game, while Island Coast takes on Cape Coral (4-3) also in district play.
“Cape is a big game for us,” Jones said. “It’s a game that’s always a dog fight. We hope to play our game, not let home field advantage play a part, take their crowd out of it, and fly around the football to create turnovers.”
1 2 3 4 F
IDA BAKER 0 6 0 8 — 14
ISLAND COAST 0 6 8 21 — 35
2nd Quarter
IC: Pierre Holmes, 18-yard reception from Kobey Babernitch (2-pt fail); 7:19
IB: Jesiah McKnight, 7-yard run (2-pt fail); 2:12
3rd Quarter
IC: Gervaris Leaphart, 62-yard run (Leaphart 2-point); 3:56
4th Quarter
IC: Leaphart, 7-yard run (Holmes 2-point reception); 11:01
IC: Babernitch, 11-yard run (Bradley Milisich kick); 9:01
IC: Charles Lombardo, 20-yard reception from Rex Elliot (kick block); 3:55
IB: Brendon Donnelly, 1-yard run (Donnelly 2-point); :48
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com